Liquid dispenser for cans



Ap 9, 1940. 'F. G. JONES 2,196,770

LIQUID DISPENSER FOR CANS Filed June 29, 1939 INVENTOR.

7002 1, 6- Bx wwl q ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a liquid dispensing device for cans and more particularly to a device arranged to be attached to a can for puncturing the same and converting it into a suitable pouring receptacle.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a simple and economical device which may be attached to a can for converting it into a suitable dispensing receptacle.

Another object is the provision of a dispensing device adapted for use on different size cans.

Another object is the provision of a can pouring device madein two parts hinged together in such a manner as to become locked on a can when applied thereto.

Other objects and advantages appear from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawing a practical embodiment illustrating the principles of this invention is shown wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating the device comprising this invention as applied to a can.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the underside of the device when opened up.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating the device constructed to fit only one size can, and also illustrating how my improved device may be folded when not in use.

Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating a modified form of the strap section which provides flexibility for adapting the device to difierent sizes of cans.

Referring to the drawing, l0 represents the dispensing device which is composed of the horizontally disposed strap section II and the handle section l2. The strap section may be formed from a piece of strip metal with its free end provided with a depending portion l3 having an intumed flange M at its lower end. The end of the flange I4 is preferably formed arcuate in shape as indicated at in Fig. 2 to provide an abutment for engaging a portion of the arcuate perimetral surface'of the can IS.

The intermediate portion of the strap ll illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with an offset or expansion loop as indicated at H. The bends in the metal strap forming this offset may be, in any desirable shape so long as the depth of the ofl'set is suflieient to permit the metal to flex and adjust itself to accommodate cans of various diameters. The metal from which the strap is made is preferably tempered to render it sumciently resilient to span both large and small size cans and to retain such resiliency after repeated use.

The other end of the strap is formed into a loop l8 having a flat top and the end of the loop is curved downwardly and inwardly, terminating in an eye l9 formed by turning the end of the metal outwardly. The axis of the eye l9 lies approximately in a plane normal to and bisecting the flat top I8 and is disposed below the plane of the flange I 4. A strut pin or brace may span the loop to limit the expansion thereof, for instance to prevent it from expanding further than the riveted or peened ends of the pin permit.

The handle i2 is preferably made from one piece of material. The sides of the handle are bent upwardly as indicated at 2| to receive between them the eye l9, and are provided with aligned openings for receiving the pivot pin 22 which passes through the eye I!) of the strap.

The ends of the pin 22 are riveted and thus hold the strap and the handle in pivotal relation. The inner end of each side 2| is provided with a finger 23. When the device is opened and the flange M at the free end of the strap is positioned against the side of the can as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the under surface of the fingers 23 rests on the top of the can at a position diametrically opposite to the flange l4. The movable abutment 24 extends from the under side of the handle in substantially the same plane as the flange l4 when the device is secured to a can. The abutment 24 has an arcuate edge surface arranged to mate in engagement with the perimetral wall of the can. The abutment extends to either side of the handle.

When the handle I2 is opened up as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the flange I4 is fitted over the side of the can, the under portions of the fingers 23 rest on the can top and the mid portion of the top of the abutment 24 engages the side portion of the can opposite that engaged by the flange H. The contact made by the fingers 23 and the abutment 24 provide a gauge for properly setting the device before depressing the handle. The handle is then depressed and swings in an are about the point of engagement between the can and the abutment 24. The pivot pin 22 is at first above the abutment 24 and as the handle is swung the strap H and its loop l8 are expanded due to the leverage of the abutment 24 as it swings with the handle. Thus I provide a toggle action. The pivot pin 22 is forced past the point of maximum distance from the canand the spring of the strap snaps the handle the rest of the .way into its position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The pivot pin 22 is now below the abutment 24 and the spring of the strap holds the handle firmly against the can. This toggle action tightly locks the device on the can, permitting the can to be handled as a pitcher.

The rear portion 26'of the strap II is substantially horizontal and is provided with a depending tube 26 having a biased end which is sharpened to form a piercing cutting edge 21 arranged to puncture the top of the can as the handle is swung downwardly. The tap 33 formed by this puncturing operation depends vertically into the can. It is preferable to adjust the length of the tube 26 so that it completes its piercing and cutting action just prior to the time that the dead center of the toggle is passed. A soft rubber washer is placed on the tube 26 against the strap I I to seal around the punctured hole. A hole is made through the strap for venting the can through the tube 26.

The front portion 28 of the strap II is substantially horizontal and is provided with a spout member 29 extending therethrough. The lower depending portion 30 of the spout is straight and has approximately the same diameter as the cutting tube 26 to enable it to enter a hole previously pierced thereby. A soft rubber washer 3| is provided to seal the spout in the pierced hole.

In the use of my device a hole is first formed on one side of the can by the piercing tube 26; the handle is then raised and the device is reset diametrically opposite to the first setting with the depending portion 30 of the spout in the hole pierced in the first operation. The handle is again depressed, piercing a second hole. The device may then be left on the can until the liquid has been fully dispensed therefrom. Thus the can acts as the pitcher and the long curved neck of the spout greatly facilitates the pouring of the liquid from the can.

When not in use the device may be folded into position as illustrated in Fig. 3 and it may be conveniently stored in a drawer as it is not much larger than a knife handle. The handle in its folded position protects the piercing edge 21 and prevents injury therefrom.

It will also be noted that the strap II in Fig. 3 is straight. The resiliency of the strap in this instance has been confined to the loop I8 and the device is not applicable to cans over a large range of variations in diameter. This fiat strap dispenser is intended for a can of a specific diameter. However it will operate within a fair tolerance of can sizes.

. In Fig. 4 the mid section of the strap I I is replaced by two pieces of spring wire 32 formed in an arc which is equivalent to the offset I! in the strap I I shown in Fig. 1. Thus when applying the device to cans of larger diameter than the normal distance between the abutment 24 and the flange It the wires 32 flex and permit this distance to increase without undue strain on the device.

It is evident that my improved piercing and pouring device is characterized by a number of marked advantages.

Devices for the same general purpose usually are provided with a socket or outer vessel in which the can is stepped. This renders the device relatively expensive owing to the material and labor required in its manufacture. Also the device takes up too much room for storing in the drawer of a kitchen table as it cannot be folded up into small compass when not in use. Furthermore the'mountlng of a can in such a device causes it to take more room in a refrigerator or cupboard.

On the contrary, my device does not add materially to the dimensions of the can when applied thereto. Again when folded my device takes up but little room in a drawer. Moreover, owing to its few parts and simple but rigid construction, my device can be cheaply made for sale at a low price and it is durable and reliable in service.

I claim:

1. In a puncturing and pouring device for cans, the combination of a metal strap arranged to span the top of the can and provided at one end with an inturned flange to fit against the perimetral wall of the can -and at its other end with a downturned portion, a lever pivotally connected to said downturned portion and provided with fingerswhich ride on the top edge of the can when the lever is raised and also provided with an abutment which engages the perimetral wall of the can when the lever is depressed, thus providing a toggle-action, a puncturing tube carried by the strap adjacent its downturned end and arranged to form a hole ,in the top of the can when the lever is depressed, and a pouring tube carried by the strap adjacent its other end and arranged to he stepped in a previously formed hole in the top of the can.

2. In a puncturing and pouring device for cans, the combination of a metal strap arranged to span the top of the can and provided at one end with an inturned flange to fit against the perlmetral wall of the can and at its other end with a downturned portion, a lever pivotally connected to said downturned portion and provided with fingers which ride on the top edge of the can when the lever is raised and also provided with an abutment which engages the perimetral wall of the can when the lever is depressed, thus providing a toggle-action, a puncturing tube carried by the strap adjacent its downturned end and arranged to form a hole in the top of the can when the lever is depressed, and a pouring tube carried by the strap adjacent its other end and arranged to be stepped in a previously formed hole in the top of the can, the lever when depressed forming a handle for the can.

3. In a puncturing and pouring device for cans, the combination of a metal strap arranged to span the top of the can and provided at one end with an inturned flange to fit against the perimetral wall of the can and at its other end with a downturned portion, a lever pivotally connected to said downturned portion and provided with fingers which ride on the top edge of the can when the lever is raised and also provided with an abutment which engages the perimetral wall of the can when the lever is depressed, thus providing a toggle-action, a puncturing tube carried by the strap adjacent its downturned end and arranged to form a hole in the top of the can when the lever is depressed, and a pouring tube carried by the strap adjacent its other end and arranged to be stepped in a previously formed hole in the top of the can, the strap being resiliently extensible to accommodate cans of various diameters. I

4. In a puncturing and pouring device for cans, the combination of a metal strap arranged to span the top of the can and provided at one end with an inturned flange to fit against the perimetral wall of the can and at its other end with a downturned portion, a lever pivotally connected to said downturned portion and provided carried by the strap adjacent its other end and arranged to be stepped in a previously formed hole in the top of the can, the handle when depressed forming a handle for the can, and the strap being resiliently extensible to accommodate 5 cans of various diameters.

FOSTER G. JONES. 

